AP Human Geography Review Summary

Introduction

• Fast-paced review of all 7 units of AP Human Geography.
• Aimed at helping students understand main concepts before exams.
• For detailed content, check individual topic review videos.
• Mention of the Ultimate Review Packet as a comprehensive resource.

Unit 1: Maps and Spatial Concepts

• Types of Maps: Thematic vs. Reference maps, various projections.
  • Map projections distort shape, area, distance, or direction (e.g., Mercator projection preserves direction).
• GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Layers data to analyze spatial relationships.
• Research Methods:
  • Quantitative: Numerical data, e.g., census data.
  • Qualitative: Attitudes, beliefs, discussions.
• Spatial Concepts:
  • Technology reduces distance decay, enhances connectivity.
  • Environmental Determinism vs. Possibilism in cultural development.
• Scale and Scale of Analysis:
  • Scale: Size of area viewed (small-scale = less detail, large-scale = more detail).
  • Scale of Analysis: How data is organized (national vs. local).
• Types of Regions:
  • Functional/Nodal Regions: Organized around a node (e.g., delivery area).
  • Perceptual/Vernacular Regions: Based on beliefs (e.g., Middle East).
  • Formal/Uniform Regions: Defined by common attributes (e.g., state boundaries).

Unit 2: Population and Migration

• Population Distribution: Where people live based on opportunities.
  • Urban areas attract more due to economic opportunities.
• Population Density:
  • Arithmetic Density: Total population/total land.
  • Physiological Density: Total population/arable land.
  • Agricultural Density: Farmers/arable land.
• Key Vocabulary: CBR, CDR, NIR, sex ratios, dependency ratios, etc.
• Population Pyramids: Analyze demographic transition model stages (early = large base, late = top-heavy).
• Demographic Transition Model (DTM):
  • Stages from high birth/death rates to low rates.
  • Stages: 1. Pre-industrial, 2. Transitional, 3. Industrial, 4. Post-industrial, and debated Stage 5.
• Epidemiologic Transition Model: Causes of death in relation to DTM stages.
• Migration Concepts:
  • Push and pull factors (economic, political, social).
  • Forced vs. Voluntary Migration: Safety vs. choice.

Unit 3: Culture

• Cultural Relativism vs. Ethnocentrism:
  • Cultural relativism: Understanding cultures on their own terms.
  • Ethnocentrism: Judging other cultures by one’s own standards.
• Cultural Landscape: Reflects societal practices (agriculture, architecture).
• Diffusion Types:
  • Relocation: Movement from one place to another.
  • Expansion: Increase in number of adopters (hierarchical, contagious, stimulus).
• Religions:
  • Universalizing (Christianity, Islam) vs. Ethnic (Hinduism, Judaism).
• Language Families: Origin, diffusion, and regional dialects.

Unit 4: Political Geography

• Nation vs. State:
  • Nation: Shared cultural identity; State: Defined territory with governance.
• Types of States: Unitary vs. Federal, Multinational vs. Nation-State.
• Self-Determination: Right of nations to govern themselves.
• Colonialism and Imperialism: Historical context for political boundaries.
• Boundary Types:
  • Relic, Antecedent, Subsequent, Superimposed, Geometric.
• Gerrymandering: Manipulating electoral district boundaries for political advantage.
• Sovereignty: Challenges due to globalization, supranational organizations.

Unit 5: Agriculture

• Intensive vs. Extensive Agriculture:
  • Intensive: High labor/capital near population centers (e.g., market gardening).
  • Extensive: Lower density, larger land areas (e.g., ranching, nomadic herding).
• Settlement Patterns: Clustered, dispersed, linear.
• Agricultural Revolutions:
  • Neolithic, Industrial, Green Revolution.
• Bid Rent Theory: Land prices related to distance from urban centers.
• Von Thünen's Model: Spatial layout of agriculture around a market center.

Unit 6: Urban Geography

• Site and Situation Factors: Unique characteristics vs. connectivity.
• City Models:
  • Burgess Concentric Zone, Hoyt Sector, Harris and Ullman Multiple Nuclei, Galactic Model, etc.
• Settlement Distribution: Primate city rule vs. Rank-size rule.
• Gentrification: Economic revitalization vs. displacement of residents.

Unit 7: Economic Development and Globalization

• Formal vs. Informal Economy: Regulation vs. unregulated jobs.
• Economic Sectors: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary, Quinary.
• Neoliberal Policies: Promoting free trade and globalization.
• Economic Theories:
  • Rostow's Stages of Economic Growth, Wallerstein's World System Theory.
• Dependency Theory: Economic imbalance between core and periphery countries.

Conclusion

• Best wishes for exams!
• Resources available: Topic review videos, Discord community, and Ultimate Review Packet.